Bognor Regis gardener sparks amazement with his giant vegetables

Shaun Perryman’s latest achievement was a giant cabbage weighing more than 20 pounds, which was so big he could barely lift it.

He has also grown runner beans measuring 24 inches, tomatoes bigger than his hand and some ‘ridiculous’ sized beetroots.

It all started when the 38-year-old got hold of some special seeds from a friend.

“I’ve never done it before and didn’t know anything about it,” he said. “This is the first year and it’s gone mad. I’ve really enjoyed it.”

It has caused quite a stir at his allotment in Amberley Drive, with fellow gardeners bringing their cameras along to snap the monstrous vegetables.

“People are amazed, they’ve not seen anything like it,” Shaun said.

For the last three years, Shaun has been visiting his allotment most days after dropping off his six-year-old son Elijah at the school opposite.

“I do it to help with my mental health,” he said. “It’s so nice and peaceful down there and I’ve made some really good friends. It’s a nice quiet place you can go.”

He and his son love tucking into the home-grown food and have enjoyed lots of corn on the cob and runner beans this year.

Elijah likes the allotment vegetables so much that when it comes to eating produce from the supermarket ‘he spits it out’. “They’ve got no taste whatsoever,” Shaun said.

During lockdown, the pair spent lots of time at the allotment and even dug a pond there.

“He loves it down there,” Shaun said. “It’s just brilliant having our own space, we can do what we want.”

Shaun gives away most of his vegetables to places including nearby Crimshaw Farm – where the pigs have particularly enjoyed his giant marrows.

Meanwhile he donated the giant cabbage to St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

Going forward, Shaun is looking forward to continuing his hobby and exhibiting his giant creations at shows next year, where he hopes to swap seeds and meet like-minded people.

He encouraged other people to consider getting themselves an allotment too. “I think anyone who struggles with mental health would enjoy it,” he said.